HUB and Bridges Fund Management have submitted plans for a co-living-led development at 45 Beech Street in the City of London.
Designed by Stirling Prize-winning practice Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), the development will transform a 1950s office building into 174 co-living homes with new public realm, ground floor commercial space and on-site resident amenities.
The joint venture partners are targeting BREEAM Excellent, EPC A, Fitwel 3* and net zero operational carbon for the development.
Tom Stoneham, senior development manager at HUB, said: “The opportunity to develop a scheme adjacent to the most iconic residential development in London is hugely exciting. The Barbican pioneered city centre living, and our proposed scheme seeks to continue this legacy, providing a new kind of residential offering for the area.
“Our proposals would reinvigorate an existing building at risk of becoming a stranded asset, demonstrating the potential for new models like co-living to not only bring new homes to city centres, but also to minimise carbon emissions by giving new life to tired office buildings.”
Celia Harrison, director at Bridges Fund Management, added: “This ambitious co-living development would not only help to tackle the dearth of high-quality rental accommodation in London; it would also bring an under-occupied building back into economic use and make it more environmentally efficient, supporting the decarbonisation of the built environment. Co-living is becoming increasingly popular across Europe, providing much-needed sustainable housing in urban locations. We’re excited about the potential of our proposals at Beech Street to help address the clear shortage of homes in the City.”
Hazel Joseph, director at AHMM, said: “Building on the success of our previous London projects with HUB, we are joining forces again to transform an under loved office building in the heart of the city. The architectural approach has been carefully considered, responding sensitively to the much-loved Barbican context, completing the northern frontage of the estate. The existing structure of 45 Beech Street will be re-used and extended, creating a new residential community with shared amenities and breathing new life into the local streetscape.”
